What I am most concerned about is being debilitated and frail towards the end of my life. Which, as we all know could be any minute of any given day. Watching my SIX FOOT FIVE, smart, funny, and strong father fail was almost more that I could bear. With Alzheimer's and other physical complications, I did not like my "patient". I'm still in the grieving stage of this after 8 months and am stuck on ANGER. I'm angry that he didn't make plans for himself. He thought he'd die on the golf course after hitting a hole-in-one in a lightning storm, or a plane crash. He cancelled all his insurance because he (before I knew it) spent ALL his money going to Australia after his broker screwed him out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
I am THRILLED he travelled. He did with my mother and then with his companion of 2 decades after. When my mom was sick, she made SURE he went to Vega$ and attended parties without her. She left us at the age of 63.
If you are still with me, I want to tell you that I found out I have BOTH genetic markers for Alzheimer's. I also have other chronic diseases. I have found and can recommend doctors in Washington state and Colorado that can run these tests. The GOOD news is that they have told me that genetics is 20 to 30% and environment is the rest. I have found, through extensive research what can help ALL of us to utilize SCIENCE to improve the QUALITY of our lives, no matter how long we have.
I only wish I could have used this information for my 85.5 year old father. May not have saved my mother, but who knows? I just want to let go of the Anger Stage and remember my big strong Dad who really WAS an awesome guy!
Stay tuned for tips! XOXOXOXO
